Exclusive: Coventry City striker who has "shown signs of Viktor Gyokeres" backed to seal Sky Blues loan exit | OneFootball

Speaking exclusively with FLW, Lee Hendrie has been discussing Norman Bassette's Coventry City future.

Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie believes that a loan move for Coventry City frontman Norman Bassette this upcoming season is the best way for the 20-year-old to maximise his progress in 2025/26.

Bassette has been utilised mainly from the bench during his first season at the CBS Arena following his arrival from Ligue 2 side Caen last summer, starting just eleven times in the 2024/25 Championship campaign.

Paying between £2.1 and £2.98 million for him last summer, the young Belgian frontman, who made his senior debut for his national team in November last year, was brought in as someone who could contribute at a decent level now but has the potential to explode into a prolific striker in front of goal in the future.

Lee Hendrie makes Norman Bassette, Coventry City claim - Viktor Gyokeres referenced

Former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie believes that Bassette has clear similarities to Viktor Gyokeres, who tore Championship defences apart at Coventry during his time in the Championship.

But Hendrie does believe that he could do with a season away from the CBS Arena at a side that will give him more regular starts, which would put him in a good position to come back and hit the ground running at his parent club.

"I really liked him when I saw him play at times last season for Coventry. He's shown signs of Viktor Gyokeres when he came onto the scene there," Hendrie said when asked about Norman Bassette when speaking exclusively with FLW.

High praise from the Sky Sports pundit, as many regard the imperious Swede as one of, if not the best, current strikers in the world.

Gyokeres has scored 97 times in 102 Sporting appearances, but he made his name in the Championship beforehand with Coventry, and if Bassette can be nearly as good, then the Sky Blues once again have a generational talent on their hands.

"He's really hard-working, has a real strength about him and puts himself about," Hendrie continued.

"I do think he might have to go out on loan to put himself on the map, though, because he does offer an awful lot, but he might not get the game time he would be expecting this season.

"It might end up working out for Coventry and himself if he goes out there and puts his name out there."

Hendrie believes that Coventry's depth up top, with the likes of Ellis Simms, Brandon Thomas-Asante and Haji Wright all capable of playing the 'number nine' role, would mean that a short-term move could be facilitated without Frank Lampard's side becoming thin in the striker position.

He concluded: "I do feel that he has a lot to offer, and it wouldn't surprise me if he is loaned out, because Coventry does have a fair few strikers who can step in."

A loan may be beneficial, but staying could keep Norman Bassette on the Viktor Gyokeres trail

If Norman Bassette has traits of Viktor Gyokeres, then perhaps remaining at Coventry and pushing for a starting spot in Frank Lampard's side could be the way to go for the Belgian.

Gyokeres' loan spell at Coventry during the latter half of the 2020/21 season was uneventful, scoring just three times in 19 games, seven of which were starts. In the first half of that season, the Swedish international struggled at Swansea, failing to find the net in 11 games.

But in the 2021/22 season, Gyokeres' first as a full member of the Coventry side and his second Championship campaign, he netted 17 and assisted five as he became a key member of Mark Robins' side. From there, the only way was up.

Gyokeres was 23 when he made the permanent move to Coventry, three years older than Bassette now, so the pressure isn't completely on for the 20-year-old to provide immediately, nor is there pressure to step into Gyokeres' shoes at all, really.

But if Bassette wants to aim high in his career, then there's currently no striker to aim towards better than Sporting's dangerous number nine.

A loan move may make more sense for Bassette at this point in his career, and from that point, he may then be ready to become a beloved member of the Coventry City side.